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Cesar, System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies: Advize Career Interview
A childhood passion for building and tinkering, coupled with a mechanical engineering degree and internships at Cummins and Northrop Grumman, led to a dynamic systems engineering role at Raytheon Technologies.
This career path features creative problem-solving in a cutting-edge industry, encompassing test planning, hands-on lab work, and collaborative meetings.
The work involves "selling" innovative ideas to leadership, and requires strong communication and adaptability.
The most rewarding aspects include the hands-on troubleshooting and experimentation, working with cutting-edge technology, and even flight tests.
Success in this field hinges on confidence, creativity, and networking, with professional organizations offering invaluable connections.
While the cyclical nature of the work and initial delays may be challenging, significant career mobility exists, and the aerospace and defense industry is actively working to increase diversity and inclusion.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Cesar Cabrera
System Engineer
Raytheon Technologies
California State University, Long Beach
N/A
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Engineering - Mechanical
Aerospace & Defense
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, First Generation College Student
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Career Path Of A System Engineer At Raytheon Technologies
Cesar's career path began with a childhood passion for "creating and tinkering," influenced by engineer family members, leading to a mechanical engineering degree after initially considering civil engineering. This choice, coupled with internships at Cummins and Northrop Grumman, and a rotation program at Northrop Grumman, eventually led to a systems engineering role at Raytheon Technologies, a field Cesar found to be "bread and butter."
Main Responsibilities Of A System Engineer At Raytheon Technologies
Cesar's role as a systems engineer at Raytheon Technologies is "pretty dynamic," encompassing various aspects of systems engineering, currently focusing on test planning. This involves developing and executing tests, from individual components like "a GPS receiver" to the entire system, to ensure compliance with customer (government) requirements before delivery, a crucial aspect of the job.
A Day In The Life Of A System Engineer At Raytheon Technologies
A day for this systems engineer at Raytheon Technologies involves a mix of collaborative meetings with subject matter experts, planning tests ("how long is this gonna take? How much money is it gonna take?"), and hands-on work in the integration lab conducting and analyzing tests; this cyclical process reflects the current development phase of their project.
Most Important Skills for a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies
A Raytheon Technologies System Engineer emphasizes that problem-solving skills, encompassing creative approaches and adaptability, are crucial, exceeding the importance of specific technical expertise. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are equally vital, as the role demands effective briefings to diverse audiences, ranging from senior leadership to field technicians, requiring tailoring the information to the specific audience's knowledge level.
Favorite Parts Of Being A System Engineer At Raytheon Technologies
Cesar, a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies, finds the most rewarding aspect of the role to be the "creative problem-solving" involved in testing new hardware, stating that it feels like "being a true scientist." This hands-on troubleshooting and experimentation, with its unexpected challenges, is what makes the work feel like "creating...almost like an entrepreneur."
Biggest Challenges Faced by a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies
Cesar, a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies, identifies "selling...a test or a plan to leadership" as the biggest challenge. This difficulty stems from a resistant, established workforce within the aerospace and defense industry, requiring extensive data to justify even minor process improvements despite the potential for increased efficiency, highlighting the inherent tension between innovation and established practices in a large, complex organization.
Favorite Parts of Working as a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies
Cesar, a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies, enjoys working with "cutting-edge technology," particularly the "R&D phase" of government contracts that often lead to future commercial applications. This role offers unique experiences, such as "flight tests like in the middle of the desert," and exposure to classified programs involving "Next Generation Fighters or bombers," making it ideal for aviation enthusiasts.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Technology Industry According To A System Engineer At Raytheon Technologies
To thrive in the systems engineering industry at a company like Raytheon Technologies, a person needs "a lot of confidence and also a lot of creativity," especially when facing unexpected problems and pitching ideas to a more experienced workforce. The ability to "think outside the box" and creatively solve problems, even after setbacks, is crucial for success.
What A System Engineer At Raytheon Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Defense Industry
The work in the aerospace and defense industry is "cyclical," requiring patience, as security clearances often delay entry-level engineers from performing "what they were hired to do." This initial wait, filled with "busy work," can be unexpectedly discouraging for new graduates eager to apply their recently acquired skills, a fact that career services and recruiters should more proactively address.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring System Engineers At Raytheon Technologies
Entry-level aerospace and defense roles, such as "associate level" positions in structures or systems engineering, are accessible to undergraduate engineering students; the interviewee emphasizes that career mobility is possible—"there's a lot of opportunity for you to move"—and that current high demand means "opportunities definitely exist."
Significant Career Lesson From a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies
A significant career lesson for Cesar, a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies, was recognizing the two main career paths for engineers: research and development ("R&D") leading to subject matter expertise, and program management offering high visibility and leadership opportunities. Realizing this distinction allowed Cesar to "carve out the path" for their future career progression, avoiding earlier confusion from simultaneously pursuing both.
College Experiences That Helped A System Engineer At Raytheon Succeed
Cesar's success stemmed from actively engaging in engineering and professional organizations like the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, stating that "joining those professional organizations...introduced me to all these conferences and workshops where I was able to network." This networking, particularly at the Keenak conference in Pasadena, secured Cesar's first internship, which proved pivotal in launching their career and highlighting the importance of "being able to sell yourself" to recruiters and industry professionals.
How Identity Has Influenced a System Engineer at Raytheon Technologies's Career
Early in their career, a male-identifying system engineer at Raytheon Technologies observed an implicit bias favoring males in a historically male-dominated field, noting teams with "maybe one female in a team of 10." However, the industry is now actively working to "boost" female representation in STEM through initiatives and recruiting efforts, aiming to utilize "untapped talent" to propel the industry forward.
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